A02178:5157
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: revised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as love the truth, and desire to know the power of godliness. By H.H.The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.
London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for William Welby, 1612London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for VVilliam VVelby, 1612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
So the humbled and afflicted spirit, one borne for the time with present grief and anguish of mind, not only useth not the comforts it hath, and cannot presently discern; but also causeth an utter forgetfulness of them, and which more is, protesteth against them, as if they were not: yea (as we see often in Job) he so complaineth of the contrary, as if the Lord had not only forsaken his servant, but had armed himself, and did fight against him to destroy him. Here therefore we must bridle and chastise our impatient and murmuring spirit: and remember that of Job, so far contrary to the other, that though the Lord should destroy him, yet he will trust in him. Neither must we so much vex and unquiet our hearts for that we want, as labour to make use of that we have: which though it seem little unto us for the present,1 yet in truth is more than Satan by all his force is able to overcome, as may appear unto us by that endless resistance which the spirit of God dwelling in us maketh against him. For he that so fighteth is not yet captive: and he that standeth in face of the enemy, and endureth all his assaults, is not yet vanquished. Yea for that he holdeth out in so great weakness of his own, against so strong and furious assaults of the enemy; it plainly argueth, that he standeth by a greater strength than his own; by which, as he is presently preserved that he falls not into the hand of his adversary; so need he not doubt thereby to be finally delivered, and crowned with victory and triumph in despite of Satan & all he is able to work against him. But the enemy, whose quarrelling with us is endless, as2 his malice is unsatiable, will not thus leave us and give us rest, then (as I said before) it is our best and safest way, at once to end all disputation with him. And we cannot better shake3 him off, than by exercising our selves in prayer, reading, and meditation of the word of God, and by diligent walking in the works and labours of our calling: for there is no greater opportunity nor advantage that can be given unto the adversary, than if he shall find4 us idle and unoccupied. If the mind be already possessed of, and occupied in good things, it cannot so easily be transported unto that which is evil: but if he find the house empty and fit for him, he then entereth without difficulty.